Bits and pieces of my life. I am a lifelong Christian. I have been married for over 41 years to Stan. No children. We have 1 Chihuahua, Christopher Robin, and 2 calico cats named Capt. Fishipants (a rare MALE calico) and Daphne Doolittle. We have 9 nieces/nephews and 10 grandnieces/nephews whom we love. My hobbies are genealogy, reading, digital scrapbooking, history, dogs, homemaking. This is a personal blog, not a business. I share what interests me I am not selling or making a profit.

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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

I was doing some research for a good friend of mine who is descended from Capt. Michael Robert Gaffney and Mary "Polly" Smith. I thought I would share it on my blog. I am NOT related to this family, neither is Stan. I did this for our friend.

Robert Michael Gaffney (aka Michael Robert Gaffney) was born 9/29/1775 in Granard County, Ireland to William Gaffney and Nancy Riley.

Michael Gaffney went through a great ordeal coming to the States. He was forced to leave Ireland because he fought for freedom. Rumor has it that Gaffney left Ireland due to threats of imprisonment after he was involved in the Great Rebellion of 1795. At the age of 19, he was "forced to relocate his passions and hope for humanity for South Carolina". Gaffney left for America on July 31, 1797 on the ship "Snow Palace" to New York City. In the "History of Gaffney" it says that in his travels from Dublin, Ireland on 31 July 1797, he encountered severe weather and pirate attacks. Arriving in New York late October 1797. He noted the rudeness of the Dutch settlers toward the Irish and the inhospitable climate in New York.

Images Of America, Cherokee County, South Carolina
Cherokee Historical And Preservation Society
Copyright 2003
Published by Arcadia Publishing, Charleston SC
ISBN 978-0-7385-1431-4
Pg 7
Introduction
"Settlers, attracted by mineral springs, began to move into the area now known as Cherokee County in the 1750s. They found that the friendly Congaree, Catawba, and Cherokee Indian tribes had already settled close by and were sharing this area for hunting.

Michael Gaffney, born in Granard, Ireland in 1775, immigrated to America in 1797, and arrived in New York and remained there for a couple of years before moving to Charleston, South Carolina. Gaffney, in search of a more healthy and fertile land, journeyed to this area and established a homestead here in 1804. He married Mary "Polly" Smith of the Smith's Ford family. They built a tavern and lodging for travelers at what soon became known as "Gaffney's Cross Roads". This location was selected because of two major roads - one from the mountains of North Carolina and the north-south route from Charlotte to Georgia.

He left New York aboard the ship "Marion". He arrived in Charleston, SC on Feb.3, 1800. He spent the summer there. He contracted yellow fever in Charleston, SC, where he nearly died but was nursed back to health by a Dr. Riley (or Dr. Reilly). He would later give his three daughters the middle name of Riley to honor Dr. Riley. It was also his mothers' maiden name and she may have been a relative of Dr. Riley. In Dec. 1800 he sold his business, and moved upstate. He built a home in 1804 where the Mills Gap Road from the Blue Ridge Mountains crossed the Georgia Road from Charlotte, NC which was called Gaffney Cross Roads.

He owned a store with co-partner, Mr. McCarton, in the area of upstate South Carolina that would become Gaffney, SC.

In the HISTORY OF THE SARRATT FAMILY By Noble John Sarratt, 1809-1897 The first store established in this section was that owned by Mike Gaffney and his co- partner, McCarton. It was located at first a few miles west of the point where Gaffney City now stands, not far from Thickety Creek. Mr. McCarton came ahead of Mr. Gaffney and established the store. “By this time,” Mr. Gaffney says in his journal, “I was beginning to get pretty tired of Charleston. It made me think of going to my partner, a Mr. McCarton, who lived about 250 miles up the country north-west of Charleston.” He left Charleston on Dec. 11, 1800, and arrived at “our new home in six days,” which was Dec. 18, 1800.

On July 21,1803, some months after he established his store at the Crossroads, he married Mary Smith (aka Polly Smith) who resided near Smith’s Ford. Mary Smith was born 7/1/1783 at Smith's Ford to John Smith and Sarah Guyton. John Smith was born Feb, 1748 in Virginia to Henry Smith and Amelia "Amy" Hampton and died 12/31/1834 in Smith's Ford, SC. Sarah Guyton was born 12/29/1763 in Baltimore County, MD to Joseph Guyton, Sr. and Hannah Whitaker and died 4/17/1800 in York County, SC.

Here is the will of John Smith, father of Mary Smith Gaffney.

Mike Gaffney purchased 805 acres of land from John McKie on January 20, 1804 for $600.00. He then constructed his home, a store and trading post at the corner of present day N. Granard Street and Baker Boulevard. This intersection was a Native American trail and wagon road. The location was perfect for growth because the two major roads met there, the one from the mountains of North Carolina to Charleston and the other from Charlotte into Georgia. It became known as Gaffney's Crossroads. Established in Spartanburg County as Limestone Springs, the town was granted a US Post Office on May 14, 1836, and its first Postmaster was Mr. William Murray. On April 8, 1879, the US Post Office Department officially changed the name to Gaffney City, with Postmaster M.M. Glover. In 1892, the name was officially changed to simply Gaffney.

The store was moved from its first location to the place known as Gaffney's Cross Roads, now the city of Gaffney, SC. He built his first home, a small log cabin, in 1804 where the Mills Gap Road from the Blue Ridge Mountains crossed the Georgia Road which was called Gaffney Cross Roads. Their first child, Nancy Riley Gaffney, was probably born there on 6/1/1804. A handhewn log home was donated to the city of Gaffney by the Gaffney Bicentennial Commission and Committees on June 23, 2006. Most of the hand hewn logs are from the house of Michael Gaffney built on 1804. 35° 4.431′ N, 81° 38.908′ W

Michael Gaffney was the first man to make bricks in Cherokee County, S.C. He was the first man to have a brick chimney; and to have a weather
boarded house. Anthony Sarratt bought brick from Gaffney at the cost of $6.00 per thousand to build a chimney for his house. Michael was the first
man to have a store in which one could buy dry goods in the county.

There were no other buildings at the site except his barn, his home, and the store, which also served as a tavern and lodging house for travelers. The store flourished. As the first little frame shacks were built together around the crossroads, promoters took over Limestone Springs, which they ballyhooed as the South's Saratoga. It was the heyday of mineral therapeutic treatment. Low country plantation owners, plagued every summer by malaria, which they called "country fever" and believed was caused by "miasmas," flocked here to drink the water. A $75,000 hotel was built in 1835, and the town assumed the characteristics of a resort. Wealthy patients paid for the sumptuousness to which they were accustomed at home. The town also became noted for its tilting tournaments, cockfights, and gander pullings in which a plucked and greased gander was suspended mid-air and exposed to competing horsemen who tried to snatch off its head while riding past at a hard gallop. (South Carolina: A Guide to the Palmetto State by the Federal Writers' Project, 1949, pg 349.) The Limestone Springs hotel failed in 1845 and was soon was converted to the offices of Limestone College, a women's institution of learning. t was the first women's college in South Carolina and one of the first in the United States. Founders Dr. Thomas Curtis and son William Curtis, distinguished scholars from England, sought to provide educational opportunities to those who had not otherwise had them. It is the third oldest college in South Carolina. The railroad was built in 1873 and the tracks were surveyed, streets laid out, and homes and business built. Gaffney was incorporated in 1857.

A History Of Spartanburg County, DR. J. B. 0. Landrum, pg 48
Another picture of this section at the same period is found in the diary of Michael Gaffney, founder of the town of Gaffney, who trading post and tavern at the intersection of two established trading paths came to be called Gaffney's Cross-Roads, later Gaffney's Old Field, later still Gaffney. In 1802 he settled in that part of Spartanburg District which is now Cherokee County. His diary has been preserved and it gives a very clear picture of his impressions as he passed from Charleston to Smith's Ford on Broad River. A native of Ireland and possess of some means, he was disappointed, as he made his way up from Charleston, to find the interior "low and unhealthy" and the people "yellow, poor, and sickly." He had anticipated finding in the foothill region "a fine country, but was surprised to find it poor, sandy, rocky, and hilly." Most of the people were poor and were dressed, peasant style, in hunting shirts and trousers, home-woven of coarse cotton yarn. "Every farmer or planter," he noted, "is his own shoemaker, tanner, tailor, carpenter, brazier, and, in fact, everything else. Everything comes by the farmer and his family. It is the business of the wife and daughter to pick cotton and have it brought home, pick it from the seed, spin it, weave it, and make it ready for your back. Some of the girls made very handsome cloth. The women in this country live the poorest lives of any people in the world. Here they must do everything from cooking to plowing, and after that they have no more life than Indian squaws. They hardly ever sit down to the table with their husbands, but wait on them like menial servants.”

He built his home in 1804 where the Mills Gap Road from the Blue Ridge Mountains crossed the Georgia Road which was called Gaffney Cross Roads. Although there were no other buildings at the site except his barn, his home, and the store, which also served as a tavern and lodging house for travelers. The store flourished and soon a resort hotel was built near Limestone Springs. The place's name was changed from Gaffney's Crossroads to Gaffney’s Old Field, and still later it was called Gaffney’s. The site was later incorporated as The Town of Gaffney City. In the "History of Gaffney" it states that many of the streets in Gaffney, SC were named after family members. There was a hotel that soon was converted to the offices of Limestone College, a women's institution of learning. The railroad was built in 1873 and the tracks were surveyed, streets laid out, and homes and business built. Gaffney was incorporated in 1857.

Let's look at how South Carolina developed by looking at some maps.

SC backcountry election districts of 1778. During the Revolutionary War, in 1778, the new Whig Government of South Carolina passed legislation to establish new election districts. The net effect was to increase the representation of the SC Backcountry in the Legislature. This was done mainly to appease the Backcountry settlers, many of whom had strong Loyalist tendencies, and encourage them to support the new State Government in Charleston. Many people who had been Loyalist leaders in SC during the events of 1775 had acquiesced to Whig rule. Some of them, such as John Mayfield of Browns Creek (Ninety-Six Judicial District) even ran for office in the new districts and won election to the SC House of Representatives. Mayfield was elected from the Upper or Spartan District (between the Broad and Saluda Rivers) and took his seat in February 1780. In 1785, the new counties of Spartanburg and Union would be created from this Upper District.

SC Districts 1769-1784

SC District and County Courts 1786-1791

SC Districts, 1791-1799

A map of Spartanburg County, SC in 1820. Spartanburg is marked in red in the center of the map. The "Gafney Tavern" is marked in red in the upper right corner.

Cherokee county was formed in 1897 from parts of York, Union, and Spartanburg Counties. If I say a Gaffney was born in Spartanburg County, SC it means they were born in a part of Spartanburg County that became Cherokee County, SC in 1897.

Today's SC counties

The county of Cherokee showing it's townships.

Let's also look at some of the old Indian Trails that became wagon roads for the pioneer settlers who began to move into upstate SC. The Great Wagon Road (GWR) is in red. The Wilderness Road is in blue dashed lines. Scots-Irish (Ulster-Irish), and German farmers migrating along the GWR thru VA began settling the counties near the north end of the Old Cherokee Path in the 1750s. However, during part of the French and Indian War 1754-1763 they decided to leave the Washington County, VA area. Some settlers were pushing beyond the Proclamation line protecting Indians from intruders. From the first contact with Europeans the Cherokee Indians had settlements called the Lower Cherokee Villages in the NW part of SC and part of GA. The most prominent was Keowee in what became Oconee County, SC. Another was Tugaloo near what became Toccoa, GA. Several important Indian trails converged on these villages, including the south end of the Old Cherokee Path. The Cherokee sided with the British during the Am Rev War. By 1777 Patriot forces attacked and drove the Cherokee from SC, and Tugaloo, GA.

Old roads and trails showing over a modern map of the states and counties.

Old roads and trails showing over a modern map of the states and counties.

The Wagon Road was the Colonies' greatest highway, stretching from Pennsylvania down through the Shenandoah Valley to North Carolina. The majority of Mecklenburg's early settlers were Scotch Irish Presbyterians who arrived at the port of Philadelphia then made their way south via the Great Wagon Road. In Charlotte this trail became Tryon Street, named after Colonial governor William Tryon. One ancient trail was by the 1750s known as the Trading Path, because traders from eastern Virginia followed it south to trade with the Indians. 4 In North Carolina U. S. Highway 29 follows part of this route. A spur of the path joined the Great Wagon Road somewhere near Winston Salem. The other trail was part of a route that took traders northwest to the Blue Ridge from Charleston. A "mixed multitude of English, Scotch, Germans, Huguenots and Swiss" followed the route up from Charleston over the years to settle in Mecklenburg. 5 This trail became Trade Street. At the crossroads the village grew.

These maps show the Indian trails that became pioneer roads that brought settlers into the upstate and Michael Gaffney was poised to make his fortune.

The Gaffney Ledger dated 10/27/1899 reported that William Gaffney wrote his son, Michael Gaffney, in 1798. The letter is dated "Balymoris, Ireland March 19, 1798." and the manuscript was still legible and the paper in good condition. This letter had been in the possession of the Gaffney family ever since it arrived at its destination. The letter was addressed to "Mr. Mich'l Gaffney, at Mrs. Morris Skinner, No. 22 Water Street, New York, America," and was not encased in an envelope but folded and sealed with sealing wax."

Obituary of Henry Green Gaffney
The Gaffney Ledger, 8/21/1900 Squire Gaffney is dead. Henry G. Gaffney was born on Feb. 2, 1816, and was therefore in his eighty fifth year. He was a son of Michael Gaffney, one of the pioneer settlers of this part of the country. He had a family of eleven children, seven of whom are still living: Mrs. A.V. Montgomery, Mrs. J.A. Nance, Mrs. R.R. Wilkins, Mrs. J.E. Gaines, Mrs. W.L. Johnson, J.J. Gaffney and H. M. Gaffney of Gaffney, and Mrs. R.A. Robertson of Spartanburg. The pall bearers were the following young gentlemen, all grandsons of Gaffney: P.V. Gaffney, D.M. Gaines, Earnest Nance, William Johnson, T. Roland Gaines, and Claude Gaffney.

6) Cornelius John Gaffney (DOB 7/9/1817 in Gaffney, Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 12/22/1883 in Gaffney, Spartanburg County, SC) married Elizabeth Ross (DOB About 1831 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 4/1897 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC)

Obituary of Thomas Westhaven Gaffney
24 Aug 1887"Thomas Gaffney, Senior, died at his home near Gaffney City last week. He was a quiet man in deportment, retiring in disposition and staid close at home. He was about 65 years old. He attended well to his own affairs and watched after the interest of his family with constant attention. In all, his dealings with neighbors he was honest and honorable. He was a good true man and will be much missed by his wife and children."

Obituary of Missiniah Burns Gaffney
The Gaffney Ledger "Messiniah Gaffney (sic), an aged lady who lives in the northern part of Gaffney, had the misfortune to be severely burned Thursday evening. She was alone in the house at the time, and it is supposed that her clothing caught from her pipe as she was smoking. The servant who lives with her heard her fall to the ground and went to her rescue. With the assistance of Rev. I. N. Stone, succeeding in extinguishing the flames, but not before [the] old lady was severely burned. Both Rev. Stone and the servant had their hands painfully burned in endeavoring to extinguish the flames. Mrs. Gaffney is the mother of Adolphus Gaffney, M.L. Ross and Worth Little. Dr. Littlejohn, who was called to attend Gaffney, says that her injuries are serious and that he has little hope of her recovery. She is more than eighty years of age. Gaffney died yesterday morning at 10 o'clock from the effects of the burns. The funeral will take place at Providence Baptist Church."

Searching For the Forgotten War - 1812: United States of America
By Patrick Richard Carstens and Timothy L. Sanford
2012
Copyright 2011
ISBN 978-1-4568-6753-9
XLibris.com

The Cherokee Chronicle, Vol 22, No. 91, Thursday, May 2, 2013, pgs 1 & 4
"Michael Gaffney's Wife Found Guilty Of Murder"
By Jerry Hancock for The Cherokee Chronicle
It seems that Cherokee County's oft-violent history did not skip the found family of the City of Gaffney. In fact, Michael Gaffney's wife, Mary Polly Smith Gaffney, was herself charged and convicted in the killing of a family slave and paid a fine for her crime.

Michael Gaffney married Miss Smith on July 21, 1803 near Smith's Ford. The couple prospered and built up several businesses in the area, including a tavern in what is not the City of Gaffney. They also became the parents of nine children.

On or about January 13, 1817, Polly Gaffney allegedly killed a female slave named Phyllis who worked for the family. Phyllis was the slave and legal property of Polly's husband, Michael Gaffney, at the time of the murder, which was said to be very brutal. The female slave was killed with a single knife wound that was 2 inches in length and 6 inches deep, stabbed under the left arm above the rib cage, historical accounts reveal. Her body was allegedly mutilated afterwards.

Polly Gaffney was allowed bail on the charge of $1,000, which was signed for by her husband. A man named Robert Stacey, who evidently served as some type of judge or magistrate at the time, swore out the murder warrant against Mrs. Gaffney.

The historical file of this case states that when the case was tried, Mrs. Gaffney was found guiltyand ordered to pay a 50-pound fine for the murder, along with the court costs. These charges were paid by the Gaffney family.

In fact, Polly never spent any time in jail whatsoever, primarily because she was expecting her sixth child at the time. The child was subsequently born July 9, 1917. (Cornelius John Gaffney)

The pound sterling note was worth $4.25 in U.S. currency back in 1818 so, in fact, Mrs. Gaffney paid a fine of $212.50 on the murder charge. There is no record of how much the court costs were.

There is a note in the historical record which pointed out that the murder weapon, a knife, was bought by the Gaffney family for a price of 10 cents.

This account was not widely known at the time of the killing but appeared in public several years later in a book titled, "Rise Till Amerika, 1851-1855" edited by Sigrid Laurell. The book was subsequently translated from its original Swedish to English and re-titled, "Travels In America, 1851-1855" by Rosalie Roos. (Ms. Roos was an author and artist who later did a very famous lithography of the "Limestone Springs Female High School" which was later named Limestone College.)

Michael and Polly's grandson, Michael Gaffney II, also wrote a book in 1854 filled with anecdotes and updates in the life of his famous family. That book says that one of the oddities in the life of Michael Gaffney was the prominent role which the month of September played; he was born in September, commissioned a Captain in September by Gov. Pickney; and also died in September.

No photograph or portrait was ever made of Michael Gaffney. There is no written statement as to why an image was never made, but word of mouth had it that it was due to certain superstitions of the city's founder.

Michael Gaffney almost lost his life while a resident of Charleston prior to his marriage. He became bedridden with some form of fever, but was nursed back to health by a doctor named Reilly, who was from Killeshands, England near Gaffney's hometown. In fact, historians say that it is likely that the two were distantly related because Michael's mother's maiden name was Reilly.

As a tribute, the middle name of all Michael Gaffney's daughters was Reilly, in memory of his mother, and the doctors who saved his life.

(Sources: Cherokee County Public Library; Susan Thomas at Kennedy Room, Spartanburg County Public Library; Marion Chandler at State of South Carolina Department of Archives; local historian Robert Ivey; and researched Ian Lecroy"

In the name of GOD, Amen, I, MICHAEL GAFFNEY, Of the District and State aforesaid, being weak of body, but sound of mind, memory and understanding, do make and declare the following and no other to be and contain in my last will and testament.

FIRST:
I give and bequeath to by beloved wife all the plantation or tract of land whereon I now reside, any slave or slaves whereof I may die possessed, not exceeding fifteen, to be selected by herself; all my bank and railroad stocks; Her selection from amongst my stock of horses and mules, not exceeding six in number; also her selection from amongst my stock of cattle, hogs and twenty head of sheep, not exceeding twenty head of cattle, thirty head of hogs and twenty head of sheep; all my household and kitchen furniture and as many implements of husbandry as may be necessary for her use, my blacksmith tools, four horse wagon, carry all, and barouche for and during her natural life and no longer, and at her death the whole to be disposed as of as herein after directed.

SECOND:
I have advance to my son CORNELIUS J GAFFNEY: five thousand nine hundred and eithy three dollars 97/100.
to my son HENRY G GAFFNEY; three thousand one hundred and sixty one dollars and 82/100
to my son: JOSEPH G GAFFNEY; four thousand three hundred and twenty five and 35/100
to my son THOMAS W GAFFNEY; two thousand nine hundred and eighty six dollars
to my son WILLIAM G GAFFNEY; four thousand seven hundred and seven dollars 16/100;
to my daughter LUCINDA R AUSTILL three thousand seven hundred and four dollars 15/100
to my daughter Nancy R HENDERSON now deceased, two thousand three hundred sixty eight and 50/100
to my late son JAMES M Gaffney, six hundred and sixty nine dollars and 15 /100 ;

and it is my will and desire that all the rest of the residue of my property and estate be so divided amongst and between my children that each have equal portion thereof taking into account the advancement heretofore made to them herein stated; The children of my daughter NANCY R HENDERSON, and my son JAMES M GAFFNEY, to take the shares that thier respective parents would have been entitled to if living, to be equally divided between and amongst them share and share alike.

THIRD:
It is further my will and desire that the portion which my grandsons JOSEPH G GAFFNEY and THOMAS E GAFFNEY may be entitled to under the provisions of this will in what ever form it may exist be placed in the hands of my said wife and the income thereof shall be by her appllied to their maintenance and education.. ( sons of JAMES MADSION GAFFNEY died 1844).

FOURTH:
It is further my will and desire that the property and estate herein before devised and bequeathed to my said wife (including the issue and increase of slaves) except what may have been consumed or worn out in use, shall on her death be equally be divided divided amongst and between all my children, the children of my daughter NANCY R HENDERSON, and my son JAMES M GAFFNEY, taking as before provided the share their parents would have respectively taken if living.

FIFTH:
IT is further my will that the provisions heretofore made for my daughter LUCINDA R AUSTELL be applies to her sole and separate use with the control of her husband, neither subject to his disposition nor liable for his debts on contract, and that upon her death the same be equally divided amongst and between her children, the children of a deceased child or children, taking the shares their parents would have taken if living.

Lastly:
I hereby nominate and appoint my sons JOSEPH G GAFFNEY and HENRY G GAFFNEY executors of this my last will and testament

WITNESS:
My hand and seal this 4th Day Of September One Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Four;
MICHAEL GAFFNEY ( SEAL)

The foregoing was signed by the testator in our presence and declared by him to be and contain his last will and testament, and we in his presence and in the presence of each other subscribe our names hereto as witness of the due execution thereof;
BENJAMIN S MACARTHUR
LEMUEL FARANDES
JOHN W ROSS

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

It was time for a Google search to get some new ideas on thrifty decor. By thrifty decorating I mean taking trash to treasure, junk to gems, reuse, rcycle, upcycling old things. I love seeing everyone's ideas on new uses for old things. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't create something new. These people have proved that you can just by thinking outside the box. I appreciate all who share their ideas on the Internet to inspire the rest of us. All I did was a Google image search. You can too!

I tried to pick projects that were simple to complicated, one item to whole rooms, no money spent to some money spent, tacky to formal and sophisticated. So you choose what you like best and go for it!

I loved this kitchen stove hood... a galvanized trough!

These are old vent covers.

Using some pretty frames someone added costume jewelry to them to make them extra dazzling!

Anyone ever seen the old 1970's wooden consoles? Those big, chunky, dark, heavy pieces can be turned into modern, light pieces with a little paint!

I love what they did to these chairs!

Find some pour stoppers and add to some old soda pop bottles and you have soap, oil, vinegar, honey bottles!

Old mattress springs as wine storage.

Antiqued , painted, decoupaged antique chest of drawers.

Before you throwing away old lamps, think about painting them and adding a new lampshade. You can decorate lampshades with stamps, wallpaper, beaded fringe, fabric flowers, painted scenes, etc.

Buttons glued on bobby pins.

This old chair went glamorous with some black gloss paint and chic new upholstery.

Yes, this is a coffee can! I believe it's wrapped in a wallpaper border with ric rac glued on the lid. How cute is that!?!

Use some old bottles and add old buttons or vintage clip earrings to the corks on top. Then wrap with an old necklace. I also like how they used the bottles as picture frames by just rolling the photo up and plopping it inside the bottle.

Anybody recognize this cheap old lamp from the 1980's? Somebody had a great idea by painting it silver to look like mercury glass. Then added a new gray lampshade and brushed nickle finial on top.

Using coffee burlap sacks was ingenious for these kitchen chairs.

I really liked this storage idea. I think it's an old pickle jar? Anyway, if you are a baker, here is a way to store all those cookie cutters you may have.

I have had file cabinets professionally painted for a very reasonable price. But if you are good at it, do it yourself! The lateral file cabinet has even been put on a base to raise it off the floor. Then painted matte silver and gold. It really makes it look sophisticated. The other file cabinet was painted a sky blue with a wooden cutting board placed on top. Great place to keep those kitchen recipe files.

This piece had beautiful lines. It looks beautiful in all white.

Another one of those old console jobs that I bet was pretty ugly before someone started painting. Didn't they do a beautiful job? I have a neighbor who can paint things like this and she has done a beautiful job on some pieces.

I have an old antiqued brass lamp just like this one. I like the end result of painting it and adding a modern drum shade.

Another one of those heavy, clunky, 1970's china cabinets. I always thought they just looked downright medieval. But someone saw the pretty lines on this one and did a wonderful job refurbishing it. I love the wallpaper on the backboard, the new hardware and the paint job lightens it up and makes it the star of the room.

This is another 1970's piece that was sort of Spanish medieval. Painting it this pleasing pale yellow and aging it was a great idea. And pairing it with gray! Wow! Using the old frame to frame a map and painting the lamp base and adding the new shade made this pop!

What a great idea for a music room!

Turning this bookcase into a shabby chic cabinet to show off your treasures is a great idea. Notice they used different wallpapers for the back of each shelf.

Another one of the old pieces that has beautiful line to it but just needs modernizing. I love the two tone paint job and how the drawer handles were painted and put back on. Beautiful job.

Ever thought of using a picture frame as a tray? Good idea isn't it?

I got excited seeing this. I assume those are pennies on a burlap backing in an old antique frame that's been painted matte gold. How about a penny for each year of a person's life or for each year of a couple's marriage? Just keep adding a penny each year with the correct year on it.